Towing Jeep to Colorado with a 4.8?

[C85D4x4]

Vehicle: 2012 Chevy 2500 Van with 4.8L and 6-Speed Auto with factory aux. cooler.
Trailer: 18ft with two 5200lb axles and full brakes. With my XJ.

My plan is towing my jeep using my Dads Chevy 2500 Van (its not 1500) for this trip from Ohio to Colorado and back. I hear that the 4.8 are under powered, so should I be concerned? Does anyone think it going to be a problem?

Thoughts?

Thanks
-Chris

 

[old_man]

Just don't let it go into overdrive. Most of that trip is pretty flat.

 

[Vanimal]

i tow my jeep with my 1990 chevy g20 van and tired old 300k mile 350. you have at least 60-80hp on mine when NEW. it'll tow fine. might not be a speed demon, but it will tow fine.

 

[87manche]

I towed my junk with a silverado standard cab with the 4.8 and the 4 speed trans.

It's fine. The trans is the weakest bit, put a GIANT cooler on it and go. Don't be afraid to downshift it and rev the snot out of it. It's better than lugging it and making the trans hate life.

 

[C85D4x4]

Hopfully the 6-Speed will help me once I start going up hill passed Denver.

Thanks everyone.

 

[old_man]

If you are going west out of Denver, I recommend dropping off I-25 and heading up through Golden and up the canyon, meeting back up with I-25 by Idaho Springs. It is a nice easy grade all the way with not much downhill that you have to make up for.

Surprisingly it takes about the same amount of time and the road is really good. It will pull a lot easier. Then the next long pull is right at the Eisenhower Tunnel. Just grab the right lane and downshift. There are lots of places to pull off and let it cool down if needed. Throw a 5 gallon can of water in just in case.

Good Luck.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

The biggest thing is to keep the RPMs up high enough to not load the transmission too hard. The next thing is not get in a rush. Take your time. Drive a comfortable speed but when it gets steep just relax and take your time. My tow rig will drag any jeep up any grade at 90+ mph. But why? It just wears on everything a little bit more and I want my rigs to last a long time.

Let us know how the trips goes!

 

[kastein]

already been said... big cooler, let it rev, downshift so it won't spend a lot of time hunting for gears (and losing speed and building heat when shifting) and go easy on it. Plan your acceleration, when you see a hill coming ahead get some speed up before you get to it.

 

[C85D4x4]

First off, Thanks everyone for your replys!

The Van has a "Tow/Haul Mode Button" that activates a factory Aux. Cooler and changes the shift points for the 6-speed. But, I will manually down shift when needed when I come across the steep grades.

If you are going west out of Denver, I recommend dropping off I-25 and heading up through Golden and up the canyon, meeting back up with I-25 by Idaho Springs. It is a nice easy grade all the way with not much downhill that you have to make up for.

Surprisingly it takes about the same amount of time and the road is really good. It will pull a lot easier. Then the next long pull is right at the Eisenhower Tunnel. Just grab the right lane and downshift. There are lots of places to pull off and let it cool down if needed. Throw a 5 gallon can of water in just in case.

Good Luck.

Our group plans to make base camp near Leadville, so my plan was mostly taking I-70W all the way there. I like your suggestion but I do not see I-25 on the maps? I guess I will need to take a closer look later tonight.

Thank you.

 

[old_man]

First off, Thanks everyone for your replys!

The Van has a "Tow/Haul Mode Button" that activates a factory Aux. Cooler and changes the shift points for the 6-speed. But, I will manually down shift when needed when I come across the steep grades.



Our group plans to make base camp near Leadville, so my plan was mostly taking I-70W all the way there. I like your suggestion but I do not see I-25 on the maps? I guess I will need to take a closer look later tonight.

Thank you.

Sorry, you will be on I-70 through Denver. Get off where Highway 40 or is it 6 splits off and goes through Golden. Keep on that road and in about 20 miles it will join back up with the interstate.

If you are heading for Leadville, the only real long pull will be Eisenhower Tunnel.

 

[Hypoid]

Sorry, you will be on I-70 through Denver. Get off where Highway 40 or is it 6 splits off and goes through Golden. Keep on that road and in about 20 miles it will join back up with the interstate.

If you are heading for Leadville, the only real long pull will be Eisenhower Tunnel.

Highway 40 is the Colfax exit. When you get off, turn right. Go to US-6, which is also called 6th Ave. At that intersection, turn right. Go to the junction of State Highway 93, US-6, and State Highway 58, turn left. That will take you on a 35 mph drive up Clear Creek Canyon to Idaho Springs.​

or​

You could try and dirve the speed limit up I-70, and not get to Idaho Springs any sooner.​

Wave as you go by. :wave1:​

 

[87manche]

First off, Thanks everyone for your replys!

The Van has a "Tow/Haul Mode Button" that activates a factory Aux. Cooler and changes the shift points for the 6-speed. But, I will manually down shift when needed when I come across the steep grades.



Our group plans to make base camp near Leadville, so my plan was mostly taking I-70W all the way there. I like your suggestion but I do not see I-25 on the maps? I guess I will need to take a closer look later tonight.

Thank you.

the factory GM aux cooler is BS and far undersized.

at least it is if it's the same one I pulled from said silverado and tossed in the trash. I installed one twice the size of the one the general put on there and the trans still got hot towing in 3rd gear up steep grades. It was fine in OD in the flats with tow/haul on, put it in direct when you go up big hills.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

You should do fine, and its basically new so if anything breaks its covered under warranty. The 6spd GM trans are almost as much beef as the Allison.